NEWS

Content warning: This article discusses child sexual abuse, trauma and suicide. A fully resourced statutory inquiry should investigate historical clerical child abuse across Northern Ireland after survivors described lifelong trauma, institutional silence and repeated failures to protect children. Three long-awaited reports published by First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly examine the experiences of victims and survivors, records held

Northern Ireland is set to introduce new measures to encourage and support more mothers to breastfeed after the Department of Health launched a three-year action plan aimed at tackling some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the UK. The Breastfeeding Action Plan 2026–2029, unveiled by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt at the annual Breastival #MorethanMilk event at Stormont on Tuesday, sets out a programme of work designed to improve support for families, reduce health inequalit

Inset: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Households in Northern Ireland are set to receive financial support with electricity costs this winter after the UK Government announced plans to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills across Great Britain from 1 October. Because of post-Brexit VAT arrangements, the tax change cannot automatically apply in Northern Ireland, meaning the Northern Ireland Executive will instead receive comparable funding to ensure local households benefi

Justice Minister Naomi Long with the Annual Report and Threat Assessment for the Organised Crime Task Force 2024/25 Northern Ireland’s organised crime groups were hit by more than £26.5 million worth of drug seizures over the past year, while 651 potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking were identified, according to the latest annual assessment of serious organised crime. The figures are contained in the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) Annual Report for 202

A major independent review has concluded that Northern Ireland should press ahead with plans to bring its pathology services under a single regional structure, with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcoming the findings as support for an ongoing transformation of diagnostic services. The review, led by Lord Carter of Coles, says pathology services across the UK have already demonstrated the benefits of greater integration and modernisation, and argues that the priority is now to

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at Roe Valley Residents Associations Youth and Community Hub in Limavady where she met some of the young people who have participated in the Peaceplus Journeys Project. More than 1,000 young people across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have taken part in a cross-border programme designed to help disadvantaged young people build confidence, gain qualifications and move towards education or employment. The mileston

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is to establish an independent confidential process for anyone with information or concerns relating to Jeffrey Donaldson’s time in the party to come forward, saying its initial internal review was only “a first step, not the end of the matter”. The move follows Donaldson’s conviction on 18 child sex abuse offences, including rape, and represents the party’s most significant organisational response since the verdicts. Independent route outside

Inset: North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows Many people in Northern Ireland are unaware they can ask police whether a current or former partner has a history of domestic abuse – something Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA says must change. Burrows has written to the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Justice Minister Naomi Long calling for a major public awareness campaign promoting Clare’s Law – officially known as the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured officially opening the Revv It Up Festival, Dungiven Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Dungiven this weekend as the Revvv It Up Festival returns for its biggest event yet, bringing world-class tractor pulling, live music and family entertainment to the area. Organisers are expecting more than 20,000 spectators and competitors from across the UK, Ireland and beyond during the three-day festival, which runs from F

The public is being invited to help shape proposed legislation that could change how flags and emblems are displayed on publicly owned infrastructure across Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Infrastructure has launched a Call for Evidence on the proposed Display of Flags and Emblems Bill, giving individuals, community groups and organisations the opportunity to comment before MLAs decide whether the legislation should progress to detailed scrutin

The new All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026-2030 was launched on Thursday at the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, by Andrew Muir, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland and Ireland’s Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD. Pictured with Dr Úna FitzPatrick, Co-founder of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and Chief Scientific Officer, National Biodiversity Data Centre. Northern Ireland is backing an ambitious new

Vapes could be kept behind counters or inside closed cabinets in Northern Ireland shops under proposed new rules aimed at reducing their appeal to children and young people. The public is being asked for its views on plans that could also require plain white packaging, restrict flavour names and limit vape devices to white, black or grey. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said he intends to introduce regulations in Northern Ireland following the UK-wide consultation, which forms p

Inset: Justice Minister Naomi Long Justice Minister Naomi Long has made an explicit appeal for an end to effigies and symbols of hatred being placed on bonfires ahead of the Twelfth celebrations. The Minister said such displays cause “deep, unnecessary hurt”, widen divisions and distract from cultural events intended to be peaceful and family-orientated. Her intervention comes as communities across Northern Ireland prepare for bonfires, parades and other events over the bank

Former MP, convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson Anyone who directly experienced abuse or inappropriate behaviour by convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson while he was an MLA or a visitor to Parliament Buildings is being urged to come forward as Stormont launches a formal review into his conduct. The review, which opened today, Friday 10 July, follows Donaldson’s conviction for rape, indecent assault and gross indecency against two women when they were child

Former Democratic Unionist Party leader Jeffrey Donaldson A safeguarding and accountability row surrounding Jeffrey Donaldson has deepened after the DUP confirmed it is commissioning a specialised independent review into issues arising from the former party leader’s conviction. Donaldson, a former DUP leader and one of Northern Ireland’s most prominent political figures, has been convicted of 18 historical sexual offences against two women when they were children. He is await

Northern Ireland’s emergency care system came under even greater pressure during the past year, with official figures showing hospitals treated almost 19,000 more emergency patients than the previous year while performance against key emergency care targets continued to deteriorate. The latest Northern Ireland Hospital Statistics: Urgent and Emergency Care (2025/26) reveal emergency department attendances increased again, four-hour performance declined, the number of patients

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed a £60million fall in benefit fraud. Benefit fraud losses in Northern Ireland fell by more than £60 million last year, with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons saying the figures show his “zero-tolerance” approach is delivering results while warning there is “no room for complacency”. New annual figures reveal that benefit fraud fell from £233 million in 2024 to £170.9 million in 2025 – a reduction of more than £62 million. Fraud no

Supporters outside Stormont calling for long-term investment in agri-environment schemes to support farmers and restore wildlife, joined by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir New polling commissioned by RSPB NI has revealed strong public support for increased investment in nature-friendly farming, as the organisation called on politicians to provide greater backing for farmers working to protect wildlife and tackle climate change. The survey found that 68 per cent of people support i

Inset: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has pledged tougher action against social housing fraud in Northern Ireland as a new public consultation launches on proposals to strengthen powers against those abusing the system. The move comes amid continuing pressure on social housing across Northern Ireland, with the Department estimating tenancy fraud and misuse costs the public purse around £9.9 million every year. Officials believe the true co

Girls in Northern Ireland could soon be guaranteed the right to wear trousers to school under proposed legislation progressing through the Assembly, with North Antrim MLA and Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows describing the move as a matter of “common sense and personal choice”. The UUP leader and the party’s education spokesperson welcomed the Bill’s progress after supporting its Second Stage debate in the Assembly on Wednesday, July 1. The legislation seeks to ensure